10 places that you must see before you die

We present to you some of the most important monuments in the history of the world, which every admirer of architecture should at least once in his life visit.


1. Machu Picchu, Peru

Wrapped in fog, the lost city of the Incas... It was built on a rock 2350 m above sea level above the steep walls of the Urubamba valley. Researchers and travelers compete in speculation, for what purpose were they built - as a place of worship, an astronomical observatory, a rural residence of the ninth ruler of the Incas - Pachacutec? This remains a mystery to this day. Maybe that's why so many of us dream of seeing this amazing place. Machu Picchu, which in the ketchup language is called the 'old summit', is on the list of modern wonders of the world, is certainly worth a visit.


2. Luxor and Karnak, Egypt

It used to be Thebes, described by Homer as a city with 100 gates. Ancient capital is crossed by a canal, divided into the southern part called Luxor and the northern part, known as Karnak. The wealth of ancient Thebes simply cannot be imagined. For centuries, remained the capital of the Egyptian state. Each victory, each triumph was honored by the construction of a new, magnificent temple. The statue of Rameses, Osiris, sphinxes with human and mutton heads. The interior of the temple consists of dozens of slender columns.

3. Alhambra, Spain

The Alhambra offers a fairy tale view. Red walls of palaces, surrounded by green gardens, on the background of sharp ridge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This well-preserved fortress was built by the Arabs as early as the Middle Ages. After entering the courtyard, the admiration still increases. Thin columns support openwork lace forged in stone. The interest of tourists is so great that it is worth booking tickets in advance, because there are daily limits.


4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

At the beginning of the second millennium of our era, the Khmers were the best developed civilization in the world. The wonderfully developed irrigation system is the best testimony to this. The former Khmer capital ? Angkor - at the time of its greatest glory (889-1413 AD) occupied an area of more than 100 square kilometers and was inhabited by more than 1 million people. Angkor Wat (photo) is the largest and most wonderful Buddhist temple. It was built by King Suryavarman II, who ruled over the powerful Chmer Empire. The temple was dedicated to the Indian god Wishnu. Javarman VII converted the building into a Buddhist temple. After his death, the Buddhist symbols were destroyed and the Hindu character of the temple was restored.

5. Petra, Jordan

Discovering at the beginning of the 19th century, Petra is still full of intriguing mysteries. No historical records have been preserved, and there are not many traces of the inhabitants of the city, which ignites the imagination of tourists from all over the world. The Nabateans, who settled in the area around the 4th century B.C., most probably led to the power of Petra. Numerous buildings in this ancient city were carved in pink desert sand around 100 BC, when it was at its peak. The extensive ruins, included in the UNESCO list in July 2007, were recognized as one of the seven new wonders of the world.


6. Coliseum, Rome, Italy

A monument that is both delightful and intimidating. It is an easily recognizable symbol of Rome, but also of the whole ancient world. The Colosseum was built over 2 thousand years ago so solidly that it survived despite earthquakes, fires and wars. In 107, Emperor Trajan held a games here in honour of Rome's victory over Darius. To this day it is a model for stadium designers all over the world.


7. Teotihuacan, Mexico

There are two of the most famous pyramids of Latin America - the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The ruins are connected by a wide artery ? Calle de los Muertos, which is called the Way of the Dead. This most mysterious place in Mexico was abandoned in the 10th century. The city was founded from the second century BC to the second century AD. The greatest bloom took place from the fourth to the seventh century. The name Teotihuacan was given by the Aztecs and means: the place where the gods are born.


8. Acropolis partner, Greece

The Acropolis Hill, crowned with the ruins of the Parthenon, is one of the archetypes of European culture, which attracts 3 million tourists a year. The classic Greek temple in Athens dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was built in 432 BC. Although the temple occupies approximately three tennis courts, it is characterized by unrivalled lightness and harmony. The building was once decorated with bas-reliefs showing stories from Greek mythology, including the birth of Athens, which jumped out of Zeus' head and her struggle against Poseidon. The remains of the Doric frieze have been preserved above the columns.

9. Taj Mahal, India

The mausoleum of the beloved wife of Mongolian Emperor Shah Jahan in Agra (200 km from Delhi), India, is a must-see for any trip. It was founded in 1650. The ruler built the building out of love for his beloved wife named Ardźumand Banu Bajgam, also called the Palace Decoration (Mumtaz Mahal). Three generations of the mighty Mughal dynasty immortalized talent and wealth in stone and marble! The beautiful mausoleum is considered one of the wonders of the world. Delightful perfect symmetry, amazing proportions, subtle beauty of architectural details, covering almost every inch.

10. Nazca Lines, Peru

The desert plateau 400 kilometres south of Lima is famous for its collection of giant lines engraved in the ground and the images of people, animals and plants. From 400 years before Christ's birth to 650 years after his birth, the geoglyphs were created by removing a layer of red stones, revealing a lighter, sandy substrate. As the tens and hundreds of metres of statues are best seen from the air, there were numerous hypotheses trying to explain what they were meant to do. There was talk of a calendar, an astronomical board, signs for the gods and "road signs" for flying saucers. According to many scientists, they used to be roads. They were also considered to be an astronomical album. Others, on the other hand, claim that making gigantic drawings in huge spaces was the favourite entertainment of the Nazca people.